Cazoo Open de France: The Debrief

Ryo Hisatsune claims maiden win

Ryo Hisatsune became the first Japanese player to win on Continental Europe in over 40 years as he claimed the Cazoo Open de France in stunning fashion.

The 21-year-old DP World Tour Qualifying School graduate started the final round at Le Golf National four strokes off Englishman Jordan Smith’s lead, but burst into life on the back nine to capture Continental Europe’s oldest national open. Hisatsune posted both a pair of birdies and bogeys on the front nine to make the turn at level par before a birdie at the tenth proved to be the catalyst for a brilliant title charge.

Four more birdies followed, including a simple six-foot conversion at the tough 17th hole, and he closed out a five under par round of 66 with a par at the last to reach 14 under par and secure a two-stroke victory.

Isao Aoki was Japan's first DP World Tour winner at the 1983 Panasonic European Open and it would be 33 years before there was another thanks to Hideki Matsuyama at the WGC-HSBC Champions, with Matsuyama since adding another World Golf Championships title and the Masters Tournament to his collection.

Hisatsune has written his name into the record books by becoming the third Japanese winner in DP World Tour history, as well as the fifth member of the Qualifying School’s Class of 2022 and the 16th first-time winner on the 2023 Race to Dubai.

"I couldn’t forecast the result. I didn’t see the leaderboard but I got the right result. I’m happy. I fly back to Japan tomorrow. Maybe in business class, I don’t know!

"It feels unreal. For me, I didn’t think I would win, but I just won! I’m feeling delighted, it’s my first win, I’m so happy.

"It’s been nothing like I thought (DP World Tour career so far). I only turned pro three years ago, the first years playing in Japan, then on to the DP World Tour through Q School. Now I’m here with my first win in my pro career – it’s so amazing."

Jacquelin farewell to the Open de France

Home hero Raphaël Jacquelin enjoyed his "best memory on Tour" as he walked up the 18th at Le Golf National to a rapturous ovation with his family in his final appearance at the Cazoo Open de France.

Since graduating from the European Challenge Tour in 1997, the Frenchman has played 680 DP World Tour events - this week is his 681st - winning four times and finishing inside the top 100 on the Rankings every year between 2000 and 2016.

He has also played in his home open 25 times with a best finish of third in 2012, but he now bids farewell to the event before turning 50 in May next year.

Jacquelin has already started the next part of his golfing journey, coaching countrymen Alexander Levy, Julien Guerrier and Jeong weon Ko and aims to move into senior golf in 2024.

Storm bids farewell to the DP World Tour in his 500th event

Reaching an impressive milestone, 2007 Open de France champion Graeme Storm bid a special farewell to his DP World Tour career at the venue where he claimed his first victory at Le Golf National.

Storm, who is now part of the Tour as a referee, tapped in for a final hole bogey during the second round to cap off a special achievement.

Winther's impressive finish

After three missed cuts in a row, Jeff Winther produced the round of the day on Sunday to earn his best result since his 2021 Mallorca Golf Open victory.

The highlight of the Danish player's six-under 66 was a chip-in eagle at the ninth hole to make the turn in 32, before he added third more birdies and one bogey to end his week tied with Jordan Smith.

Video of the week

Tom Kim and Yannik Paul finished in a tie for sixth at Le Golf National, but earlier in the week the duo took on our Luck of The Draw challenge